Friday, April 18, 2014

A picture prominently displayed on the SFGate website shows San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi assisting a minister in washing to feet of an immigrant at a Holy Thursday service last night.

Notice the halo? That's because the story on the website compared Saint Nancy's actions to those of Pope Francis. Last year while presiding over his first Holy Week Triduum services, the new Pontiff broke with tradition by washing the feet of disabled persons rather than sticking with the tradition of washing the feet of priests at the liturgy. The Pope can do that, since it is he who is legislator, judge, and executor of the Church's law. Not so with Saint Nancy.

What the SFGate story mentions only in passing is that the photo of Pelosi was taken not at a Catholic service but rather at an Episcopal church service. Why is a woman who, at every opportune time, pronounces herself to be a devout Catholic, "assisting" at an Episcopal service? It's the photo op that she is seeking, naturally. If photographers had not been there, Pelosi would not have any interest in flouting Catholic teaching in a way at which she has grown so proficient.

That's right, this is not the first time she has flouted Catholic teaching. Ironically, Pelosi is always saying that religion and politics should not mix. She must have added a caveat, however. They mix when there is a photo op that will elevate her in the eyes of her deluded San Francisco constituency.

Today is Good Friday. Catholic churches all over the country generally have Stations of the Cross in the afternoon and a Good Friday service in the evening. The question is, will we see on tomorrow's SFGate website a photo of Saint Nancy carrying a cross through the Streets of San Francisco? You can be sure it will only happen if there is a photographer there.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Last week I posted a video of the Catholic priest who surprised a bride and groom and sang a specially tailored version of Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah." The video went viral and has millions of hits, and deservedly. But I think I have found an even more profound version of the song, and just at the right time. It's Holy Thursday when I post this, and tomorrow is Good Friday. I will watch this again myself tomorrow -- over and over.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

In my last post I wrote about the beautiful brotherly love of two siblings whose parents have modeled for them what love is all about. Sadly, a disturbing video has gone viral, and it epitomizes the evil of a culture that has so turned away from God that it's doubtful that love will ever come to some children. Here is the disturbing video (a Vine) showing adults encouraging and facilitating an infant in taking a drag from a marijuana joint. Worse yet, they laugh about the child inhaling the smoke.

Such behavior is unfathomable, and the crime they perpetrated against this child is unforgivable. I pray that these scoundrels are caught and put in jail for the rest of this child's life. He should never have to be subjected to their barbarian actions again.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

I have five brothers and five sisters, and I know that any of them would do anything for me, and vice versa. Having said that, I'd be lying if I said things were always that way. I am not sure whether we would have sacrificed much for each other in our pre-teen years the way the older brother in this video has sacrificed for his younger brother. What a testament to brotherly love. This story gets my vote for the most heart-warming story that I have seen so far in 2014.

The Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, is a cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus. Although its name hails from Greek mythology, the light that it emanates is from the one and only Creator God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His name be praised!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Father Ray Kelly gets my vote for the best Presider at a Catholic wedding! Enjoy!
[The video was pulled from You Tube, so I will try to find its original post. I fund it on UK Daily mail so if this video is yanked, maybe you can find it here.]

We have probably all run into people in our lives who surprise us by doing something that seems out of character. That's what the students in Jim O'Connor's math class encountered earlier this year. They thought they knew their stern math teacher, until they learned he had a softer side. This video actually came out on Valentine's Day, but I just came across it. And I am glad I did.

Before learning Mr. O'Connor's secret, these students would probably have voted for him as the grumpiest teacher. Now, they have a better understanding of what makes him tick. It's amazing what can happen when you take the time to get to know someone.

In contrast, another group of students who DO know their teacher decided to play a prank on him last week for April Fool's Day. The teacher had a policy that if your phone rang in class you had to answer it on speaker so everyone could hear who was calling. Another student made a video as the prank played out.

Now, the students in the second video had high regard for their teacher. And he did not disappoint with his reaction. To his credit, he did not get mad or punish the students for the prank. This time it was the teacher who learned a secret about a student -- albeit a false secret. But he changed his policy after this joke, and he no longer requires them to answer aloud for all to hear. That is probably a wise thing. I can imagine the lawsuit if that had been real rather than a rank!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

I just got up and looked outside. Why? To see if the sky is falling. A week ago I posted a video that I thought I would never post -- because it came from liberal Bill Maher and it exposed (however briefly) the hypocrisy of a couple of liberals on his show. Now, I thought that show was just a fluke, a fleeting moment of sanity in Maher's otherwise insane liberal world. But now Maher has made another comment that is likely to inflame liberals. Here's the video to prove it.

Either Maher is losing his way or he is channeling Steven Colbert. If it happens a third time, I'll eat my ... dinner in front of the TV.

Most of us probably know someone who lost a full-term or nearly full-term infant at the time of birth. It is a devastating loss to both parents, no matter how prepared they think they are for the loss. When I watched this story I had mixed feelings. Admittedly, the word "morbid" came to mind. Bit apparently there are some couples who have found this to be a comfort. What are your thoughts? Would you vote yay or nay, or can you even fathom having to make the decision to engage?

We all like to think that we are private people and that we protect ourselves from would-be identity thieves. Victory Girls blogger Kit Lange posted a piece earlier this week on how easy it is to find out information through social media. Then this morning I saw this video that really unsettles me even more.

I avoided Facebook for years, until last month, in fact. I thought I was making an informed decision when I launched my page last month. I may have changed my mind if I had seen this video before going on Facebook. Now I am among the ranks of the vulnerable.

What's more, even if adults do not use Facebook and the likes, our kids do. And they can lead thieves and other unsavory characters to us. I don't have a solution -- other than shuttin' it down completely.

What about you? Are you safe online? Is this the price we pay to live in a "free" society?

"Paying it forward" doesn't have to be at extravagant as what these folks were able to do for Chelsea. I've seen people pay for the toll of the person behind them and pay for the meal of the car behind them at a drive through. Something that surprises another person as a random act of kindness can go a long way, and maybe have a dramatic effect on someone just by letting them know that good things DO happen to ordinary people.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

I knew I should not have watched this video. I sat staring at the screen for a whole minute before I decided the answer to How bad can it be? was Not THAT bad. So I clicked play, and about 50 seconds into the video, I wished I had listened to the voice of reason. But since I didn't, I am going to share it with those of you who are not squeamish. If you ARE squeamish, do NOT watch this video.

(Here's a tip to figure out if you should watch or not. Remember last year in the NCAA tournament when Louisville Cardinals basketball player Kevin Ware broke his leg and it was nauseating to people who saw it? Same thing here. I still have never watched the video replay of that terrible moment. If you saw it and almost hurled, do not watch this one!)

This video gets my informed vote for the most disgusting sports injury I have seen since Joe Theisman's career-ending break. [CAUTION: Another video to avoid if you are squeamish!]

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

From the classic 1970s British comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail to Dan Brown's controversial thriller The Da Vinci Code, the subject of the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday has captured the imagination of Christians and non-Christians for 2000 years. Now a new take on the existence and location of this mysterious object has taken the Spanish city of Leon--and the world--by storm.

Basilica of San Isidro in Leon, Spain

The Basilica of San Isidro in Leon, Spain, has been overrun with tourists and faithful in recent weeks as they flood the church to get a glimpse of what is being touted as the Holy Grail -- the real Holy Grail. This means it is being held up as the actual chalice from which Jesus himself drank and which he shared with his Apostles on the night before he died.

The Urraca goblet

The drinking vessel that is being elevated to Holy Grail status is not a newly discovered holy object. Rather, its existence has been known for centuries, as far back as the 12th century even. Until now it has been known as the goblet of the Infanta Dona Urraca. Queen Urraca was Queen of Leon until she died in 1126 A.D.

Route of travel of the chalice

What changed with regard to the goblet's identity is that two writers--a medieval history lecturer and an art historian-- spent three years researching the history of the goblet. Their research led them to conclude that the vessel is indeed the Holy Grail, and that over the centuries it traveled from Jerusalem to Egypt to Spain, where it was given to the King and Queen as a token of appeasement by Muslims.

The authors document their own research journey in their new book, The Kings of the Grail. According to The Blaze:

Unveiling their findings last Wednesday, the two explained that they
found documents referencing the chalice at Cairo’s University of
al-Azhar while researching the history if Islamic remains at the
Basilica of San Isidoro, the Irish Times reported.

The documents, written in Arabic, reportedly say that Muslims stole
the chalice from Jerusalem and that it was given to Christians in Egypt.
Then, they claim it was somehow sent to King Fernando I of Castile as a gift, disguised with jewels and other adornments.

The historians admit that they cannot prove the chalice touched
Christ’s lips, nor can they pinpoint the first 400 years of its history.
That said, they claim to have used a scientific dating method to
determine that the chalice was likely made between 200 B.C. and A.D.
100.

Although I maintain healthy skepticism, this is a book that I am likely to read. If nothing else, it could make quick hay of Dan Brown's version of history. But then again, nothing will assuage those who want to tear down the holiness and influence of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.